Robin's Healthy Take: Tips for Eating Right on a Plane

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My blog post is kinda different this time because I'm traveling with my kids and thought it would be fun to talk about "healthy eats" on the road. This week we're flying, and if you've hit the air recently, you've experienced the food situation (or lack of it). On shorter flights, there's often nothing more than a tiny bag of peanuts or pretzels. Longer flights offer a "snack cart" where you can purchase fresh and pre-packaged food. The cart has a few healthy options but if you're sitting in the back and they run out mid-way through service, you're stuck with what's left (they seem to have an endless supply of chips and candy). When I travel with my boys, I don't take any chances; I pack a bunch of munchies and keep my credit card handy for healthy, fresh food on board. Grabbing something at the airport is also an option, but you have to search for healthy fare and then deal with really long lines while dragging your luggage (my kids won't stand still long enough for that). If you have more patience, opt for fresh sandwiches on whole grain bread. Get roast turkey, carved ham or grilled chicken and add lettuce and tomato. Go easy on mayo-based spreads; opt for grainy mustard instead. Fresh salads are great too, just watch out for high-fat dressings and those topped with loads of meat and cheese (share those with your travel partners). Fresh fruit, fruit smoothies and bulk nuts, seeds and trail mix are also terrific choices.

For our trip, here's what I brought on board:

Peanut butter-filled pretzels

Raisins and dried cranberries

Unsalted almonds

Salted peanuts

Rice cakes

Cheese sticks

Granola bars (chewy and crunchy)

Fruit roll-ups (fruit leather is good too)

Corn nuts

Garlic and herb bread sticks

Sugar-free gum (for our ears!)

And here's what I purchased:

Fresh fruit and cheese plate

Next week we're going to an amusement park and festival before taking a major road trip so stay tuned for more travel tips! In the meantime, send me yours!

In addition to being sweet and juicy (or tart and mouthwatering, depending on the variety), cherries have a lot of health benefits as well. They’re rich in heart-healthy anthocyanins and potassium, plus sleep-promoting melatonin.